History YMMV / CallOfDutyZombies

*** For example, Pack-A-Punching the Uzi in Black Ops II will give it the name "Uncle Gal", a reference to [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uziel_Gal Uziel Gal]], the man who originally designed the weapon.
*** Some other Pack-A-Punched guns have names written in LeetLingo. An obvious is example is Black Ops I's FN FAL[[labelnote:*]]Fuckin' Fail[[/labelnote]] becoming the EPC WN[[labelnote:*]]Epic Win[[/labelnote]].
*** Doing so to a single CZ-75 turns it into "Calamity". Pretty generic... However [[GunsAkimbo weapons that become dual-wielded when Pack-a-Punched]] tend to follow a "(NAME) and (NAME)'' convention, which again are also cheeky references. PM-63? [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo_Rose Tokyo & Rose]]. HS-10? [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Mallon Typhoid & Mary]]. Dual CZ-75s? [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calamity_Jane Calamity & Jane]].
*** Pack-A-Punching the Film/{{Commando}} assault rifle turns it into the Film/{{Predator}}, both Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger action flicks.

*** For example, Pack-A-Punching the Uzi in Black Ops I will give it the name "Uncle Gal", a reference to [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uziel_Gal Uziel Gal]], the man who originally designed the weapon.

*** Doing so to a single CZ75 turns it into "Calamity". Pretty generic... However [[GunsAkimbo weapons that become dual-wielded when Pack-a-Punched]] tend to follow a "(NAME) and (NAME)'' convention, which again are also cheeky references. PM63? [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo_Rose Tokyo & Rose]]. HS10? [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Mallon Typhoid & Mary]]. Dual CZ75s? [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calamity_Jane Calamity & Jane]].

** The MAC-10 in ''Cold War'' is called the "Royale With Lead"... anyone who's ever seen ''Film/PulpFiction'' will get the reference almost immediately.[[labelnote:Explanation]]It's a play on "Royale With Cheese", which Vincent discusses with Jules in the beginning of the movie. Vincent meets his end later when Butch guns him down with a MAC-10.[[/labelnote]]
** Then there's the Gallo 12 (the [[AKA47 SPAS-12]] from previous games, really), which becomes the H-ngm-n.[[labelnote:*]][[GallowsHumor "Hangman"]] with spaces in the name in reference to the game.[[/labelnote]]

** The names of certain Pack-A-Punched weapons can fall into this. For example, Pack-A-Punching the Uzi in Black Ops I will give it the name "Uncle Gal", a reference to [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uziel_Gal Uziel Gal]], the man who originally designed the weapon.

** The names of certain Pack-A-Punched weapons can fall into this. For example, Pack-A-Punching the Uzi in Black Ops I will give it the name "Uncle Gal".[[note]]For those who don't get it, the name is a reference to [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uziel_Gal Uziel Gal]], the Israeli officer who originally designed the weapon.[[/note]]

** The names of certain Pack-A-Punched weapons can fall into this. For example, Pack-A-Punching the Uzi in Black Ops I will give it the name "Uncle Gal".[[note]]For those who don't get it, the name is a reference to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uziel_Gal Uziel Gal]], the Israeli officer who originally designed the weapon.[[/note]]

* [[AuthorsSavingThrow/CallOfDutyZombies Author's Saving Throw]]

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny:
** Several maps from Zombies' early days were widely praised upon release due to offering a whole new perspective to ''Call of Duty'' as whole, but nowadays they are considered downright primitive in comparison to the newer levels which bring out much more gameplay features and plot elements to the table. The maps which lack the iconic Pack-a-Punch machine (such as ''Nacht der Untoten'', ''Verruckt'' and ''Shi No Numa'') suffer from this the most, and while they are still respected within the gaming community, it's mostly due to a case of GrandfatherClause.
** The Ray Gun used to be valued much more than it is today - the concept of having a Wonder Weapon that was effective at clearing out zombie hordes was innovative back at the day of release, but it didn't take long for other Wonder Weapons to overshadow it, especially the Thunder Gun which appeared first in ''Black Ops''. It didn't take for the Ray Gun to fall straight into the AwesomeButImpractical territory: it was simply too dangerous to use in close quarters without a PHD Flopper; the self-damage was much more dangerous to the wielder rather than zombies. On higher difficulties, the Ray Gun's damage was found to start decreasing just like most other weapons on the maps, becoming flat out ineffective on much later waves. While it would get redeemed in many future games it appeared in, be it having the ability to be Pack-a-Punched or having its stats buffed, the Ray Gun is considered to be inferior to many other Wonder Weapons that were released later, including its successor, Ray Gun Mark II.

** ''Black Ops 4'': The DownerEnding of ''IX'' and [[spoiler:the death of Primis Richtofen in ''Blood of the Dead'', followed by the entire multiverse being erased along with everyone sans Samantha and Eddie going down with it]] for the respective Chaos and Aether storylines.

** By ''[[VideoGame/CallOfDutyVanguard Vanguard]]'', this reached its logical conclusion: the campaign and regular multiplayer were handled by Sledgehammer, while its Zombies mode was handed off to Treyarch. Although this ended up becoming a subversion since ''Vanguard'' Zombies mode is considered a huge letdown by a large portion of the fanbase [[TheyChangedItNowItSucks due to many unnecessary changes applied to the gameplay and plot alike]].

** The "characters" used in ''Cold War''. As all of ''Cold War'''s modes are interconnected barring the Campaign, Zombies mode lacks distinct player characters; instead, they just use the Multiplayer operatives. On the one hand, you can pick your favourite, new characters will come with more Seasons and you can play as Woods in Zombies, but outside of him, Sam (who is now playable as of Season 2), and maybe Adler, these characters are distinct ''nobodies'' with zero personality. They don't joke around, they barely talk [[note]]and when they do it's generic, obviously reusable stuff like "undead enemy down" or "grabbing a Wonder Weapon" - not mentioning the Ray Gun or the D.I.E by name, ''just'' "Wonder Weapon". And they don't say ''anything at all'' when drinking Perk-a-Colas... not even Sam, the Queen of Zombies herself![[/note]] and overall just sort of sleepwalk through their line deliveries. Considering some are still sore about losing the incredibly charismatic Primis, Ultimis, Chaos, and even ''Victis'' in ''Black Ops 4'', to say this is a weak replacement is the understatement of the century.

** The main thing that makes ''Nuketown Zombies'' so notorious is that the Perk-a-Cola machines (and Pack-a-Punch) always drop within intervals of every one hundred zombies killed. Essentially, you may get the much-needed Juggernog either about the fifth wave... or about the ''fifteenth'', nevermind the fact that not everyone has the skill to make it this far. The whole gameplay on ''Nuketown Zombies'' therefore becomes a LuckBasedMission where your odds at survival heavily depend on RNG.

** ''Black Ops'': The destruction of the [[spoiler: Earth at your hands]] at the end of ''Moon'' is not just the moment when the series officially shifted to a more serialized tone, but it’s a strong contender for SignatureScene of the entire series.

* CompleteMonster: ''[[VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOps4 Black Ops 4]]'': The HighPriest of Chaos, the BigBad of the "[[VideoGame/CallOfDutyZombies Chaos]]" story, plans to use the Prima Materia to control all of humanity and [[TakeOverTheWorld rule the world]]. Forming TheOrder by killing countless people before resurrecting and brainwashing them into becoming his followers with the Scepter of Ra, he would also use the Scepter of Ra to make himself immortal. Surviving into 1912, he has The Order pursue Alistair Rhodes, where he has all the people attending Alistair's mansion turned into zombies, creating mass carnage. When a group led by Alistair's daughter, Scarlett, travels to his time in AncientRome, he uses a Sentinel Artifact to turn all his slaves into zombies and forces the four to fend off the zombie hoard and complete the Trial of Ra before he attempts to execute them.

* CompleteMonster: ''[[VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOps4 Black Ops 4]]'': The HighPriest of Chaos, the BigBad of the "Chaos" story, plans to use the Prima Materia to control all of humanity and [[TakeOverTheWorld rule the world]]. Forming TheOrder by killing countless people before resurrecting and brainwashing them into becoming his followers with the Scepter of Ra, he would also use the Scepter of Ra to make himself immortal. Surviving into 1912, he has The Order pursue Alistair Rhodes, where he has all the people attending Alistair's mansion turned into zombies, creating mass carnage. When a group led by Alistair's daughter, Scarlett, travels to his time in AncientRome, he uses a Sentinel Artifact to turn all his slaves into zombies and forces the four to fend off the zombie hoard and complete the Trial of Ra before he attempts to execute them.

* CompleteMonster:
** [[HumanoidAbomination The Shadow Man]], the GreaterScopeVillain of the entire Aether MythArc, was originally a Keeper who led a group of other Keepers into the Dark Aether, leading to their transformation into [[AncientEvil the Apothicons]]. Embracing his newfound transformation, he led the Apothicons to war against the non-corrupt Keepers, but found themselves imprisoned in the Dark Aether. Desiring to spread havoc throughout the universe, he sends Element 115 to various dimensions knowing the beings there will misuse it, resulting in entire populaces to become zombies and the destruction of their worlds. He would also construct the Aether Pyramid in the Ultimis dimension and use it to drive Edward Richtofen insane, having him use Element 115 to turn the human race own zombies, experiment on his colleague's daughter, and destroy his own dimension. He would eventually find himself in the 63rd dimension, take the identity "Mr. Rapt", and [[ManipulativeBastard manipulate]] four people into killing someone, exploiting their desire for atonement to have them unknowingly open the Apothicon Rift, leading to their dimension being invaded by the creatures. After being sealed into the Summoning Key and sent to Dr. Monty's perfect world, he tricks Dr. Maxis there into freeing him before trapping Dr. Maxis inside. He would then summon the Apothicons, and have them destroy Monty's world and reek destruction [[OmnicidalManiac across the universe.]]
** ''[[VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOps4 Black Ops 4]]'': The HighPriest of Chaos, the BigBad of the "Chaos" story, plans to use the Prima Materia to control all of humanity and [[TakeOverTheWorld rule the world]]. Forming TheOrder by killing countless people before resurrecting and brainwashing them into becoming his followers with the Scepter of Ra, he would also use the Scepter of Ra to make himself immortal. Surviving into 1912, he has The Order pursue Alistair Rhodes, where he has all the people attending Alistair's mansion turned into zombies, creating mass carnage. When a group led by Alistair's daughter, Scarlett, travels to his time in AncientRome, he uses a Sentinel Artifact to turn all his slaves into zombies and forces the four to fend off the zombie hoard and complete the Trial of Ra before he attempts to execute them.

** The main thing that makes ''Nuketown Zombies'' so notorious is that the Perk-a-Cola machines (and Pack-a-Punch) always drop within intervals of five rounds. Essentially, you may get the much-needed Juggernog either on the fifth wave... or on the ''twenty-fifth'', nevermind the fact that not everyone has the skill to make it this far. The whole gameplay on ''Nuketown Zombies'' therefore becomes a LuckBasedMission where your odds at survival heavily depend on RNG.

** By ''[[VideoGame/CallOfDutyVanguard Vanguard]]'', this reached its logical conclusion: the campaign and regular multiplayer were handled by Sledgehammer, while its Zombies mode was handed off to Treyarch. Although this ended up becoming a subversion since ''Vanguard'' Zombies mode is considered an AudienceAlienatingEra by a large portion of the fanbase [[TheyChangedItNowItSucks due to many unnecessary changes applied to the gameplay and plot alike]].

** By ''[[VideoGame/CallOfDutyVanguard Vanguard]]'', this reached its logical conclusion: the campaign and regular multiplayer were handled by Sledgehammer, while its Zombies mode was handed off to Treyarch. Although this ended up becoming a subversion, considering that ''Vanguard'' Zombies is considered an AudienceAlienatingEra by a large portion of the fanbase [[TheyChangedItNowItSucks due to many unnecessary changes applied to the gameplay and plot alike]].
* PlayerPunch: Aside from the whole [[spoiler:killing the original characters]] thing, there's another in ''Gorod Krovi''. Remember Gersh, who you freed from the black hole he was trapped in in ''Ascension''? He remembers you, and pleads for mercy and asks why you're [[spoiler:shooting him to lead him to S.O.P.H.I.A who then tortures him]] as part of the EasterEgg.

** By ''[[VideoGame/CallOfDutyVanguard Vanguard]]'', this reached its logical conclusion: the campaign and regular multiplayer were handled by Sledgehammer, while its Zombies mode was handed off to Treyarch.